Permanent way rail joint connection



July 6, 1937 l w. zlscHKA 2,085,885

` PERMANENT WAY RAIL JOINT CONNECTION I Fild-May 25, 1956 2 sheets-sheet 1 wilhelm Zixmm INVENTOE,

@ @YMML July 6, 1937. w. zlscHKA PERMANENT WAY RAIL JOINT CONNECTION Filed May 25, 1936 v-2 sheets-sheet 2 Y Wllhelm ZISCMKOL |NvENTofl-gjmm@ Patented July 6, v1937 UNHTED STATES PATENT OFFICE Wilhelm Zischka, Jablonec N. N.,*C`zechoslovakia Application May 23, 1936, Serial No. 81,342

In Czechoslovakia July 23, 1934 6 Claims.

This invention is for improvements in or relating to joint connections of permanent way rails.

Rail joint connections are kno-wn comprising,

for insertion in the joint, a transversely movable wedge-shaped member which is kept in continuous contact with the ends of the rails on either side of the joint by spring urging means, the wedge-shaped member being formed at at least 10 one end with a substantially vertically disposed wedging surface arranged slidingly to abut a correspondingly shaped and disposed wedging sur* face on the adjacent rail end.

The invention relates to rail joint connections of this class (hereinafter referred to as the class specified) and comprises an improved construction as will hereinafter appear.

The invention consists in the provision of a rail joint connection of the class above speciiied comprising in combination with the wedgeshaped member of the connection, a supporting member therefor arranged to be inserted between the rail ends on either side of the joint, a sleeper plate, means to aiix the supporting member to the sleeper plate, the sleeper plate being common to both the supporting member at at least one end thereof and the adjacent rail end, and fish plates for connecting the supporting member to the rail ends.

According to a preferred form of the invention, the supporting member for the wedgeshaped member is a bar of inverted-T section which is clamped down by its anges on to the sleeper plate.

It is frequently the case that in parts of the track rails of unequal length abut together. In this case the heat expansions and contractions on the two sides of the joint are unequal.. The shorter rail does not vary its length to the same extent for a given temperature variation as the 40 longer rail. To meet this diiculty, the invention includes the provision of a false rail and between the rail end proper and the wedgeshaped member, which false rail end is rigidly 4 connected to the rail endproper and carries the wedging surface, the rail end proper being cut perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the rail and the angle of the wedging surfaces on the false rail end and the adjacent end of the wedge- 5 shaped member being of a magnitude to suit the length of rail on that side of the joint.

The invention will now be further described with reference to the accompanying drawings which illustrate two preferred embodiments by 55 Way of example.

(Cl. 23S-219) In the drawings,

Figure 1 represents a horizontal section through the rail joint connection taken along the line of the connecting bolts which connect the parts of the joint together; 5

Figure 2 is a plan View of the connection;

Figure 3 is a side elevation partly in section of the connection;

Figures 4, 5 and 6 are respectively cross-sections through the connection on the section lines 10 IV-IV, V-V and VI-VI of Figure l, these iigures and the preceding Figures 1 to 3 showing the parts of the invention according to one of the embodiments thereof;

Figures '7, 8 and 9 are respectively a horizontal 1 sectionjplan view and elevation similar to Figures 1, 2 and 3, but showing the parts of the invention according to the second embodiment thereof, and

-Figure 10 is a cross-section through the connection on the line X-X of FigureV 8.

Referring first to the embodiment of the invention shown in Figures l to 6, thetwo rails on either side respectively of the joint are cut out at the joint in wedge-shape on two verti- .t cal planes symmetrical to each other. The ends 2 of the rails rest on a common supporting plate 3 xed on the sleepers and on which they are fixed at a certain distance from each other. The intermediate space between the two rail ends o l, 2 is lled up, leaving expansion gaps, by a wedge-shaped bar 4 of inverted-T section resting by its flanges upon the face of the supporting plate 3. -The web of this bar 4 is thicker than the webs of the rails and is provided with longitudinally extending ribs. The bar 4 is firmly connectedby rivets or bolts 5 with sh plates 6, which are also formed with longitudinally extending ribs as shown and which by these ribs engage the ribs of the web of .the bar il. The fish plates 6 embrace by their outer ends the rail ends l, 2 and are so connected therewith by bolts 'l that the rails'on either side of the joint can expand and contract under the action of heat.

The top of the web of the bar 4 is cut transversely in dove-tailed formas sho-wn in Figure 3 and forms a guide for a wedge-shaped member 8 which is provided on its narrower edge with a downwardly directed arm 9. Two bolts I0, which 50 are drawn through the two fish plates 6 and through the web of the bar 4, pass through this arm 9. On these bolts are arranged springs Il which bear by one of their ends on the outer fish plates 6 and with the other end on the inner 55 surface of the vertical arm 9 of the wedgeshaped member 8. The rail ends I, 2 and the bar 4 are clamped down by their flanges on to the supporting plate by means of bolts I2 and clamping plates I3.

The second embodiment illustrated in Figures '7 to 10, is essentially similar to the first embodiment and for this reason similar parts are designated on the drawings by the similar reference numerals to those employed in Figures 1 to 6. The difference between the two embodiments consists in this, that the rails are not cut off obliquely but at right angles to their longitudinal axis. The cut preferably follows in a zigzag line (in elevation) in such manner that the rail end proper is supported by the part I8 of the head of the rail, which projects above the rectangularly cut off web and the flanges of the bar 4, the ends of which are also cut off on perpendicular planes at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the rail. On each of the heads ofthe two rail ends I, 2 is closely connected awedge-shaped piece I4 constituting a false rail end. This piece is rmly connected by means of a tongue I5 and bolts l to the corresponding rail end proper and is provided on its lower side with a feather key I6 by means of which it is guided inA an oblong groove Il in the upper surface of the web of the bar 4. The abutting surfaces of the false rail ends I4 with the heads of the rail ends proper, as also the abutting surfaces of the two wedge-shaped parts 8 and I4, may advantageously run obliquely.

The second embodiment of the inventionris particularly adapted for those parts of the track where the rails on either sicle of the joint are of unequal length. It isV to be understood, however, that it is not limited to this case.

As previously indicated herein, in the case referred to where the rails on either side of the joint are of unequal length and in consequence the heat expansions and contractions on the two sides of the joint are unequal, it is necessary to suit the angle of the wedging surfaces at the two ends respectively of the wedge-shaped member to the respective lengthsof the rails. Thus, the wedging surface adjacent the shorter rail would have an angle somewhatY greater than that adjacent the longer rail, so as to enablethe wedging surfaces onthe Wedge-shaped member correctly to rest on the corresponding wedging surfaces of the false rail ends. The wedge form, therefore, of the false rail ends should be suited, as stated, to the lengths of the rails to which they are respectively connected.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States l. A rail joint connection'of the class 'herein specified, comprising in combination with the wedge-shaped member of the connection, a supporting member therefor arranged to be inserted between the rail ends on either side of the joint, at least one false rail end to intervene between the corresponding rail end proper and the Wedgeshaped member, which false rail end is arranged to be rigidly connected to the rail end proper, carries the rail end wedging surface and is slidingly carried upon the suppporting member for movement therealong with expansion and contraction movements of the rail, a sleeper plate, means to affix the suppporting member to the sleeper plate, the sleeper plate being common to both the supporting member at at least one end thereof and the adjacent rail end, and fish plates for connecting the supporting member to the rail ends proper. Y

2. A rail joint connection as specied in claim 1, having the false rail end guided in its movement upon the supporting member by a key on one of the parts and a cooperating key-way on the other'.

3. A rail joint connection as specied in claim 1, having the rail end proper undercut, the head portion projecting in the direction of length of the railY beyond the web portion, and the projecting head portion overlying the adjacent end of the supporting member so as to receive vertical suppport thereupon.

4. A rail joint connection of the class herein described, comprising obliquely cut rail ends, a wedge shaped member, a support for said wedgeshaped member inserted between the rail ends, means securing said wedge-shaped member resiliently to said support, a dove-tailed transverseY groove cut in the top of said suppport with its walls lyingV in planes perpendicular to the vertical longitudinal plane of the rails, a correspondingly dove-tailed transverse guide element on the lower surface of the wedge'member and forming part thereof and sh plates to connect the support to the rail ends.

5. A rail joint connection of the class herein described comprising obliquely cut rail ends, a

wedge shaped member, a support for said wedgeshaped member inserted between the rail ends, means securing said wedge-shaped member resiliently to said sup-port, a dove-tailed transverse groove cut in the top of said support with its walls lying in planes perpendicular to the vertical longitudinal plane of the rails, a correspondingly dove-tailed transverse guide element on the lower surface of the Wedge member and forming part thereof, a sleeper plate being common to both said support, at at least one end thereof, and the adjacent rail end, means to aiix said support to said sleeper plate, and sh plates to connect said support to said raillends.

' 6. A rail joint'connection of the class herein described, comprising obliquely cut rail ends, a wedge shaped member, a support for said wedgeshaped member comprising a bar of inverted T- shaped transverse section inserted between the rail ends, means securing said wedge-shaped member resiliently to said support, a dove-tailed transverse groove cut in the top of said support with its walls lying in planes perpendicular to the vertical longitudinal plane of the rails, a correspondingly dove-tailed transverse guide element on the lower surface of the wedge member and forming part thereof, a sleeper plate being common to both said support at at least one end` thereof and the adjacent rail end, means to clamp the flanges of said support to said sleeper plate, and fish plates to connect said support to the rail ends. Y

WILHELM ZlSCHKA. 

